The UK government didn't have the authority to authorize the release of the guy, it was a decision by the Scottish government.
Legally speaking, he was released on compassionate grounds due to the medical evidence suggesting that he was on deaths door. Perhaps this compassionate release was also used as an olive branch towards Libya for whatever reason, there are many subtexts in every decision and interaction that we do with a foreign nation.
However, perhaps it was because the Scottish government are compassionate and wanted to show some sort of moral decency; in their opinion.
The idea that the power can be removed, as rypt suggests, is quite frankly absurd and shows a lack of knowledge and insight into the devolution process.
As to why America are 'poking their nose in', then I would argue that they are trying to divert a lot of attention away from themselves and issues within their own country and associated foreign policy because of elections coming up shortly. They are attempting to show that they are the fighters for justice, in a similar way that lot did with the Iraq invasion. Secondly, the brought down plane killed over a hundred US citizens so they do have a right or perhaps even a moral obligation to question the circumstances around it.
If we assume the evidence given by the Doctors to Kenny MacAskill was watertight and correct and the bloke had died shortly after returning to Libya then this issue wouldn't be brought up. It's only because of the Libyan posturing and exploitation of the circumstances that has brought it to the attention of the US lawmakers. Libya are essentially just shoving two fingers up towards the 'West' to get a reaction and they've succeeded.
Legally speaking, he was released on compassionate grounds due to the medical evidence suggesting that he was on deaths door. Perhaps this compassionate release was also used as an olive branch towards Libya for whatever reason, there are many subtexts in every decision and interaction that we do with a foreign nation.
However, perhaps it was because the Scottish government are compassionate and wanted to show some sort of moral decency; in their opinion.
The idea that the power can be removed, as rypt suggests, is quite frankly absurd and shows a lack of knowledge and insight into the devolution process.
As to why America are 'poking their nose in', then I would argue that they are trying to divert a lot of attention away from themselves and issues within their own country and associated foreign policy because of elections coming up shortly. They are attempting to show that they are the fighters for justice, in a similar way that lot did with the Iraq invasion. Secondly, the brought down plane killed over a hundred US citizens so they do have a right or perhaps even a moral obligation to question the circumstances around it.
If we assume the evidence given by the Doctors to Kenny MacAskill was watertight and correct and the bloke had died shortly after returning to Libya then this issue wouldn't be brought up. It's only because of the Libyan posturing and exploitation of the circumstances that has brought it to the attention of the US lawmakers. Libya are essentially just shoving two fingers up towards the 'West' to get a reaction and they've succeeded.
